Reuse, Recycle: U.S. and Japan to Work on Nuclear Reprocessing

By

Keith Johnson

Nov 13, 2009 1:18 pm ET

Energy and climate change have already leapt to the forefront of President Obama’s Asian tour—even in countries he’s not visiting.

Associated Press

There was the call today by Mr. Obama and Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama to cut their countries’ greenhouse-gas emissions some 80% by 2050. That’s a terribly ambitious target, and more modest climate measures already face plenty of pushback domestically in both countries, but neither man is likely to be worried about reelection by then—or much else.

And the U.S. and Japan also announced more cooperation on clean energy. There was the usual talk about “collaborative” research in new energy technology, and sharing the burden when it comes to making the smart grid and clean coal a reality.

But one bit in particular seems interesting: “Strengthened partnership on nuclear energy including on advanced fuel cycle technologies…”

That pretty much boils down to figuring out the best—and most affordable way—to reprocess spent nuclear fuel…